Category Archives: Dutch word of the day

Boarden

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to board Iconspeaker_3
[verb]
[boar-den, board-de, ge-board]

Even though we have a Dutch word for "board" in this context, i.e. "boord", the verb we use is derived from English: "boarden". We use it for the whole process of boarding, typically planes. "Going on board" is "aan boord gaan" and "to be on board" is "aan boord zijn", both also used for boats and ships.

I'm off on holiday for two weeks, so have fun with Marc, or enjoy a break (depending on Marc's mood 😉 )

Examples:
– "Sander moet over 20 minuten boarden en dus opschieten met deze DWOTD." 
("Sander has to board (the plane) in 20 minutes and hence has to hurry up with this DWOTD.")

– "Hoe laat begint het boarden?" 
("At what time does boarding start?")

– "Hoi, wat leuk dat je belt, ja, we zijn al geboard." 
("Hi, how nice of you to call, yes, we have already boarded.")

– "U moet boarden bij gate E3." 
("You will have to board at gate E3.")

Related words:
– Boord: board, when used as explained in the intro.
– Boren: to drill [verb] [boorde, geboord].
– Boord: collar of a dress shirt [noun] [het boord, de boorden]. A dress shirt has two "boorden".
– Bord: plate [noun] [het bord, de borden].

Kar

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cart, trolley Iconspeaker_3
[noun]
[de kar, de kar-ren]

Kar The word "kar" or the diminutive "karretje" is typically use for relatively small carts or trolleys (shopping, luggage, golf). Bigger carts that are more like wagons can be called a "kar" but are also often called a "wagen". "Wagentje" and "karretje" are more or less interchangeable. "Kar" is also used informally for a "car (automobile)" with the associated verb "karren".

Examples:
– "Pak jij even een boodschappenkarretje, een mandje is niet voldoende denk ik." 
("Will you get us a shopping cart, I don't think a basket will suffice.")

– "Wow, wat een gave kar!!" 
("Wow, what a cool car!!")

– "Man, wat is deze koffer zwaar!" – "Waarom pak je dan geen bagagekarretje sukkel!" 
("Man, this suitcase is heavy!" – "Then why don't you get a luggage trolley you fool!")

 

 

Expressions:
– "De kar trekken": used figuratively for "to lead the effort".

Example:
– "Dit project schiet voor geen meter op!" – "Ja, dat heb je als Frank de kar trekt."
("This project is not progressing one bit!" – "Yup, that's what you get when Frank is leading the effort.")

Related words:
– Karren: to drive [verb, informal] [karde, gekard].

Example:
– "Morgen pakken we onze tassen in en overmorgen karren we naar Zuid-Frankrijk." 
("Tomorrow we'll pack our bags and the day after tomorrow we'll drive to the south of France.")

– Wagentje: cart [noun] [het wagentje, de wagentjes].
– Wagen: wagon, car [noun] [de wagen, de wagens].
– Huifkar: covered wagon [noun] [de huifkar, de huifkarren].
– Paard-en-wagen: horse and carriage [noun] [de paard-en-wagen, de paard-en-wagens].
– Karten: go karting [noun] [het karten, <no plural>]. Here, we also use the verb "karten".

 

Munt

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coin, token, currency, mint Iconspeaker_3
[noun]
[de munt, de mun-ten]

5-guldenmunt88 "Munt" is the general word for "coin" and is also used for coin-shaped tokens; the ones that are typically used at festivals and in clubs. Naturally, small tokens become "muntjes". The place where coins are mint, is called "de munt".

And yes, when ordering mint tea in the Netherlands, ask for "muntthee"!

Examples:
– "Heb jij nog munten, dan haal ik effe bier." 
("Do you have any tokens left? I'll get us some beer." Note the colloquial "effe": even.")

– "Pardon meneer, u laat een munt vallen." 
("Excuse me sir, you've dropped a coin.")

– "Is de euro een sterke of een zwakke munt?" – "Weet ik veel, vraag het me morgen nog maar eens!" 
("So, is the euro a strong or weak currency?" – "What do I know, ask me again tomorrow will you!")

– "Ik vind die euro's maar niks; geef mij maar de oude 5-guldenmunt!" 
("I don't like those euros one bit; I'd rather have the former 5-guilder coin!")

– "Hebt u voor mij een muntje voor de sigarettenautomaat?" – "Ik weet het niet, u ziet er jonger uit dan 16!" – "Echt waar? Nou, dankuwel!!" 
("Can I have a token for the cigarette vending machine?" - "I don't know… you look younger than 16!" -"Really? Well, thank you!" Note that to buy cigarettes from a machine in the Netherlands, you typically need to get a token from the bar/counter which you shouldn't get if you are younger than 16.)

Expressions:
– "Iemand met gelijke munt terugbetalen": to give someone a taste of their own medicine (lit. to pay someone back with equal coin).
– "Munt slaan uit iets": to capitalize on something, to cash in on something.

Related words:
– Geld: money [noun] [het geld, de gelden]. Plural form only used for 'budget' or 'funds'.
– Wisselgeld: change [noun] [het wisselgeld, <no plural>].

Example:
– "Gepast betalen a.u.b.; deze automaat geeft geen wisselgeld terug."
("Please pay the exact amount; this machine does not return change.")

– Muntgeld: cash (in coins) [noun] [het muntgeld, <no plural>].
– Muntje: (small) token [noun] [het muntje, de muntjes].
– Munt(en)automaat: token dispenser [noun] [de automaat, de automaten].
– Uitmuntend: extraordinary, very good, excellent [adverb/adjective].
– Pepermunt: peppermint [noun] [de pepermunt, <no plural>].

Dringend

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urgent, pressing, acute Iconspeaker_3
[adjective/adverb]
[dring-end]

Dringend “Dringend” can be both used as an adjective and an adverb. Apply as you see fit following the examples below. I have underlined typical word combinations with ‘dringend’. The related verbs are “dringen” (to push/press) or “aandringen” (to urge/insist).

Examples:
– “Sander, heb je nu nog geen DWOTD geschreven?” – “Nou rustig maar hoor, zo dringend is het toch niet; iedereen is op vakantie!” 
(“Sander, have you still not written a DWOTD?” – “Take it easy now, it is not that urgent is it; everybody is on holiday!”)

– “Er is dringend behoefte aan water en tenten.” 
(“There is urgent need of water and tents.”)

– “Ik verzoek u vriendelijk, doch dringend, om uw fiets niet voor mijn raam neer te zetten.” 
(“I request you kindly, though urgently, not to stall your bicycle in front of my window.”)

– “Als ik jou was zou ik het met een korreltje zout nemen, bij hem is altijd alles dringend!” 
(“If I were you I wouldn’t take it too seriously, everything he wants is (supposedly) urgent!” Note the expression “iets met een korreltje zout nemen” – take something with a grain pinch of salt.)

– “Sorry, maar de dokter is alleen voor dringende gevallen bereikbaar!” – “Ja maar, ik moet hem dringend spreken!” 
(“I’m sorry but the doctor can only be reached in case of emergencies (“urgent cases”)” – “But, but, I have to speak to him urgently!”)

– “Bij Sander op het werk zitten ze dringend verlegen om extra mankracht, maar er mag niemand aangenomen worden.” 
(“At Sander’s office there is an urgent need of additional manpower, but it is not allowed to hire anybody new.” Note that “aannemen” is to hire a new person on the staff. “Inhuren” would be to temporarily hire somebody from outside.)

Related words:
– Spoed: haste, rush [noun] [de spoed, <no plural>].
– Haast: haste [noun] [de haast, <no plural>].

Example:
– “Haastige spoed is zelden goed!”
(“Haste makes waste!”)

– Dringen: to push/press [verb] [drong, gedrongen].
– Aandringen: to urge/insist [verb] [drong aan, aangedrongen].

Overdrijven

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1. to exaggerate, to blow up, to overdo Click to listen
Themask
[verb]
[o-ver-drij-ven, o-ver-dreef, h. o-ver-dre-ven]

Depending on where you put the emphasis,"overdrijven" may translate to 1. to exaggerate, or 2. to blow over. 

Examples:
– "Jij luistert nooit naar mij!" – "Schat, je overdrijft." 
("You never listen to me!:  – "Honey, you're exaggerating.")

– "Frank kan altijd zo vreselijk overdrijven. Hij maakt van elke mug een olifant." 
("Frank always knows how to blow things up. He makes a mountain of every molehill.")

– "Deze hele affaire is bijzonder onverkwikkelijk." – "Vindt u dat niet lichtelijk overdreven?"
("This whole affair is most unpleasant." – "Don't you think that is slightly exaggerated?")

Expressions:
– "Je kunt ook overdrijven": (lit.) you can also overdo it. Used when confronted with serious cases of exaggeration or overdoing.
– "Overdrijven is ook een vak": (lit.) Exaggeration is also a profession. Used when confronted with serious cases of exaggeration or overdoing.

Example:
– "Wat heb ik toch een vreselijk dikke kont in deze spijkerbroek…" – "Overdrijven is ook een vak…"
("I have such a terribly big butt in these jeans…" – "You know how to exaggerate…")

Related words:
– Aanstellen: 1. to appoint [verb] [aanstellen, stelde aan, h. aangesteld]. 2. to put
up a drama act, to put on an air [verb] [aanstellen, stelde aan, h.
aangesteld].

Example:
– "Stel je niet zo aan, het valt best mee."
("Don't be such a drama queen, it's no so bad.")

2. to blow over, to float by Click to listen
Ruysdael
[verb]
[o-ver-drij-ven, dreef o-ver, i. o-ver-ge-dre-ven]

If you put the emphasis on the "o", "overdrijven" translates to "to blow over"."Drijven" literally translates to "to float". "Overdrijven" can also be used fuguratuvely: not only clouds can "overdrijven" but also moods…

Instead of "overdrijven" you can also use "overwaaien" if the clouds blow over faster 🙂

Examples:
– "Ik voorspel je: dit onweer zal overdrijven." 
("I tell you: this thunderstorm will blow over." Lit.: "I predict you: …")

– "Geen paniek, Franks boosheid drijft altijd snel over." 
("Don't panic, Frank's anger always blows over fast." Lit.: "No panic…")

Related words:
– Overwaaien: to blow over [verb] [overwaaien, waaide over, i. overgewaaid].
– Waaien: to blow (by the wind) [verb] [waaien, waaide, h. gewaaid].

Example:
– "De wind heeft zo hard gewaaid dat het nu een enorme ravage is in de tuin."
("The wind has blown so hard that it's a huge mess in the garden now.")